Reformed. Reformed theology, while being rooted in the Scriptures, derives its name from the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. The Reformation consisted of five slogans: sola gratia (grace alone), sola fide (faith alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). Essentially, salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

Reformed theology is also covenant theology. Covenant theology, in distinction to dispensationalism, is essentially a hermeneutical perspective that seeks to understand redemptive history through God’s covenants. We see more continuity between the Old and New Testaments than we do discontinuity (e.g. Heb. 3:1-6). For a study on the distinctiveness of Baptist covenant theology, in distinction to paedobaptist covenant theology, see Pascal Denault,The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology.

Baptist. As Baptists, we believe that new covenant membership is conditioned on faith (Gal. 3). Children of believing parents are not automatically new covenant members, and therefore are not proper recipients of the covenant sign – baptism.